Consumers have so far put the WD-40 multi-use product, whose origins date back roughly 70 years, to work in over 2,000 different ways, according to the company’s website.
Earlier in July, WD-40 CEO Steve Brass recounted hearing about a consumer using the product on the pole of her bird table to prevent squirrels from eating the food when asked on “The Claman Countdown” about some of the unusual ways people have used it. He called that “one of [his] personal favorites.”
- The original formula has been used to remove an animal from an unsuitable place in at least one instance. Someone utilized WD-40 when they found a boa constrictor curled up their vehicle’s engine compartment, the brand said.
- In another occasion, it proved handy to law enforcement who needed help dislodging a suspected thief from an air conditioning vent, according to the WD-40 brand. The alleged burglar, who did not have any clothes on at the time, had apparently got stuck.
- Some customers have separated stubborn LEGO pieces with the multi-use product.
- The WD-40 brand has received reports of it taking on gum too, with people spraying it to free shoes, clothes, carpets and other things from the sticky substance.
- The WD-40 multi-use product has also doubled as a paperweight when its can was full, according to the brand. That’s something auto shop workers have used it for.
- Another wild use has occurred when artists have gotten creative with it. WD-40 can create “an interesting textured base to work from” when sprayed on a canvas and help make “unique liquid cell shoes” if mixed sparingly with acrylic paint, the brand said on its website.
Brass said on “The Claman Countdown” that the multi-use WD-40 product “is over 80% of our business” and called it a “driver of growth.”
In the third quarter, the WD-40 Company saw total net sales come in at $141.7 million. That marked a 14.6% jump from the $123.7 million it reported in the same period last year. WD-40’s net income for the quarter, meanwhile, was $18.8 million, widening from $14.48 million.
The price of WD-40 Company’s stock was $216.69 after Thursday’s closing bell, nearly 33% higher than where it hovered at the beginning of the year.
- Untangling jewelry. Spray a little WD-40 on your tangled necklace or bracelet chain and you should be able to straighten it out in no time.
- Removing crayon from multiple surfaces. No worries if your tot is an unrestrained, budding artist. WD-40 can successfully erase crayon marks from numerous surfaces, including wallpaper, carpet, rock walls, chalkboards, compressed wood furniture, glass and upholstery.
- Removing wax from candleholders. You light some candles for a romantic dinner, only to discover later that the wax dripped all over the candleholder. Scraping it off doesn’t work that well, nor does placing the candleholder in the freezer, a supposed wax-removing hack. But spray some WD-40 on the wax, and it’s a cinch to get it off. Fans also report you can spray a little inside your candleholders to prevent the candles from sticking, plus use WD-40 to remove candle soot and polish brass candlesticks.
- Removing gum. If the kids get gum in their hair, a little blast of WD-40 will remove it in no time. (And it’s a lot less messy than using peanut butter.) Just make sure to thoroughly rinse your child’s hair afterward. WD-40 also will easily remove gum from the bottom of your shoe.
- Removing tape and sticker residue. You never need to worry about affixing a state park sticker to your windshield again. WD-40 will help you remove the sticker and clean off the sticky residue that remains. Ditto for cellophane tape. Spray some on, let it soak in a few minutes, then wipe.
- Cleaning your car. Hate returning home from a summer trip and seeing your car’s bumper, grill and windshield covered with dead insects? A few blasts of WD-40 and you can easily wipe them away. In addition, you can use the spray to remove regular grime, tar and paint (if, say, a car sideswipes you). Best of all, it won’t ruin your vehicle’s own paint job in the process.
- Removing a variety of stains. Have some ink stains on your carpet or jeans? WD-40 will remove them. This magical spray also removes lipstick, coffee, tea, berry and tomato stains, lime stains in your toilet bowl, and hair color dye in your towels.
- Removing hard water spots. It’s so annoying when your hard water leaves unsightly spots on your shower door or dishes, or porcelain, tile and metal surfaces. But spritz a little WD-40 on those spots, and you’ll be able to easily wipe them away. If you use the spray on dishes, make sure to thoroughly wash before using them.
- Unsticking zippers. Jammed zippers can be so frustrating. Before discarding the item or potentially ruining it as you struggle to set the zipper free, try a little bit of WD-40. Many times, that’s all you need to do.
- Keeping insects away. Hate spiders? Spray some WD-40 on your windowsills, doorframes or wherever they try to gain entry into your home. This will help keep the spiders — and other insects — out. Gardeners, a generous coating over your wire tomato plant cages will also keep bugs at bay.
- Putting a shine on artificial plants. If your artificial house plants look dusty and tired, spiff them up by wiping the leaves and similar foliage with some WD-40.
- Helping out with paint jobs. When it’s time to do some painting, coat any nearby doorknobs with WD-40’s special Multi-Use Product, and any paint drops won’t adhere. In addition, WD-40 removes paint from tile floors, helps open paint can lids that are stuck shut and rehydrates paintbrush bristles.